by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 185 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for criminal justice students pursuing a bachelor's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 14,288 bachelor's degrees in criminal justice to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
The criminal justice bachelor's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. When choosing a school we recommend considering some of the following factors:
The overall quality of a bachelor's degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To account for this we consider a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a collection of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for criminal justice students working on their bachelor's degree.
The criminal justice school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree Schools.
In addition to College Factual's rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don't forget it.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BS in Criminal Justice - Criminology & Crime Analysis
Track and understand criminal behavior by earning a BS in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Criminology & Crime Analysis.
Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for criminal justice students seeking a a bachelor's degree. Only those schools that rank in the top 15% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
Every student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in criminal justice needs to take a look at University of Phoenix - Arizona. Located in the large city of Phoenix, UOPX - Arizona is a private for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from University of Phoenix - Arizona
Any student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in criminal justice has to check out Columbia Southern University. Columbia Southern University is a large private for-profit university located in the town of Orange Beach.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Columbia Southern University
Arizona State University - Tempe is a wonderful decision for individuals pursuing a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Located in the midsize city of Tempe, ASU - Tempe is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Arizona State University - Tempe
Every student who is interested in a bachelor's degree in criminal justice has to look into John Jay College of Criminal Justice. John Jay is a large public college located in the city of New York.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Michigan State is a very large public university located in the small city of East Lansing.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Michigan State University
UMass Lowell is a large public university located in the large suburb of Lowell.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from University of Massachusetts - Lowell
ASU - Skysong is a very large public university located in the midsize city of Scottsdale.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Arizona State University - Skysong Located in the large city of San Diego, UAGC is a private for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from The University of Arizona Global Campus Located in the city of Columbia, UofSC is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from University of South Carolina - Columbia National University is a large private not-for-profit university located in the city of San Diego.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from National University7Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type262
Annual Graduates8159
Annual Graduates9
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type216
Annual Graduates10
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type117
Annual Graduates
VCU is a very large public university located in the city of Richmond.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Virginia Commonwealth University
RWU is a small private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Bristol.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Roger Williams University Union is a small private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Cincinnati.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Union Institute & University University of New Haven is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of West Haven.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from University of New Haven UT Rio Grande Valley is a very large public university located in the medium-sized city of Edinburg.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley12
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type73
Annual Graduates13
178
Annual Graduates14
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type231
Annual Graduates15
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type518
Annual Graduates
Located in the suburb of Clinton, MC is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Mississippi College
UofL is a very large public university located in the large city of Louisville.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from University of Louisville Salve Regina is a small private not-for-profit university located in the suburb of Newport.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Salve Regina University University of Oklahoma is a fairly large public university located in the suburb of Norman.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Park University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Parkville.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Park University17
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type124
Annual Graduates18
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type51
Annual Graduates19
43
Annual Graduates20
Associate Degree
Highest Degree Type145
Annual Graduates
Located in the midsize city of Fort Lauderdale, Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale
UGA is a fairly large public university located in the city of Athens.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from University of Georgia Located in the town of Big Rapids, Ferris is a public university with a large student population.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Ferris State University Located in the town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Wayland Baptist University Located in the town of Macomb, WIU is a public university with a medium-sized student population.More information about a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Western Illinois University22
85
Annual Graduates23
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type48
Annual Graduates24
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type76
Annual Graduates25
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type258
Annual Graduates
These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also great but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Best Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree Schools award.Rank College Location 28 University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK 29 University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, MO 30 Tarleton State University Stephenville, TX 31 Marymount University Arlington, VA 32 Monroe College Bronx, NY 33 University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, CO 34 Robert Morris University Moon Township, PA 35 Lake Superior State University Sault Ste Marie, MI 36 University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, CO 37 Grand Valley State University Allendale, MI
View the Best Criminal Justice Bachelor's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
One of 21 majors within the Criminal Justice & Corrections area of study, Criminal Justice has other similar majors worth exploring.
